Water problems are a complex mix of natural resource, technology, social, economic and political conditions. When water is limited during extreme events such as droughts, society puts in place a variety of responses. But many of the actions taken in recent years have actually increased the vulnerability of other systems.

While the relative merits of several important water plans are being actively written and debated, it is abundantly clear that the key to making any of them a success is that we must change the way we view water in California.

History is full of lessons for how water crises could have been avoided or better managed. On World Water Day, this March 22, I urge governments to act now so that history will show that we took resolute action when needed, rather than leave us with costly regrets.

The drought proclamation formally recognizes that "extremely dry conditions ... may continue beyond this year and more regularly into the future." This calls for permanent and fundamental changes in our behavior. Here are five ways to get started.

What events will jar us into realizing we need to shift our water management style? Our high capacity to ignore big, observable facts gives preference to how things used to be over how things ought to be--and that won't work on the road ahead.

An interview I gave in 2005 in which I discussed the public right to water has been shared widely. My critics say it shows I want to 'privatize' water. I want nothing of the sort. I don't mind being criticized on Facebook or Twitter, because the debate there is helping to spotlight the issue of water scarcity.

The land use decisions people living near the Potomac River make today -- across towns, cities and states- - will directly affect the quality and quantity of water available to them, their children and their grandchildren.

New Orleans and nearby parishes plan to collect Christmas trees to build brush fences in bayous for marsh rebuilding this January even though the state decided to ax its funding for the program awhile ago.